Steam-motor for automobiles.



Patented 0st. 2, |900.

F. w. WATERMAN.

STEAM MDTOB FUR AUTOMDBILES.

' (Appumion mea me., 14, 1899.) (llo Model.) 3 Shaets-Sheet l.

'Patented Oct. 2, i900.

No. I`659 ,I62.

F. W. WATERMAN. STEAM HUTUR FDR AUTOMOBILES.

` (Application led Dec. 14, 1899.) (la uml.) '3 sheets-sheet 2.

` No. 659,162. ,me-mea ont. 2, |900.

F. W, WATERMAN. STEAM 010B FOB AUTOMUBILES.

\ (Application Bled Dec. 14, 1899.)

(llo Modal.) 3 Sheets-Shaet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK vv.` WATERMAN, 0F BALTIMORE, MARvLAND.4

`.sTI-:AM-'Moros Foa AUTOMQBILES.

f `SIPEC'IISICA'JJIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,162, dated October 2, 1900.

pplicetion filed December 14:, 1899. serial Ho. 740,848. tNo modem To all whom, it may concern:

Be it knownvthat I, FRANK W. WATERMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at` Baltimore, in. the State of Maryland, have invented newand ;useful Improvements in Steam-Motors for` Automobiles or other Vehi- `cles, of which the'following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain newand useful improvements in steam-motors for automobiles or other vehicles.

My invention has for its mainobject topro'-4 vide, in connection with mechanism operated -by a single eccentric on the. main shaft for controlling the valves of a high and a lowl pressure cylinder, novel mechanism for affording a variable cut-olf for the high-pres-1 sure cylinder, while permitting the cut-off of the valves of the low-pressurecylinder to remain` constant, the purpose being-to enable the m'aximum`expansive power of thefsteam' to be utilized in the low-,pressure cylinder at all times, so that the exhaust-'steam passing' therefrom to the condenser will have the minimum pressure.

Other objects of theinvention relate-to features of construction, combination, or arrangement of parts andprinciples of` operation hereinafter fully described, and particulai-1yl pointed out in the claims. i t

I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved motor, taken on aline at right angles tothe drive-shaft, the high-pressure cylinder and part of the frame being in section. 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.` 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is an edge view of `a rock-arm and parts connected therewith for varying its throw and Fig. 4 is a sectional controlling its motion. view of the eccentric mechanism. Fig. 5 is a View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 isa detail view of a plate adapted to be connected 1 with the eccentric-ring, and Fig. 7 .is a perspective view of a valve-plug. Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the 'high-pressure cylinder, and 2 the low-pressure cylinder, and. the numerals 3 and 4 indicate,respectively, the steam-chests of the twocylinders. The cylindersA are arranged in the inclined positions shown in Fig. 1 and on opposite sides of and' in operative rc- Fig.

lation with a common crank-shaft .5.

a e cast integral 1ugs6,which receive the u pper ends of pillars 7, which support the cyl'- inder., The lower endsof these pillars are supported oujntegral extensions'S of the framing 9 of themotor.,l The lugs 6 and extensions .sure cylinder isindicated by l5, its piston by 16, its cross-head by 17and its pitman by 18, which pitman at its`outer end is connected with said crank 14 on shaft 5., The shaft 5 is rotatably supported inV suitable hangers 20.

The numeral 21 indicates the steam-inlet pipe Vto the high-pressure cylinder, and 22 23 the exhaust-pipes leading therefrom, which exhaust-pipes communicate, as usual, with` a com mon steam-inlet pipe 24, leading into the low-pressure cylinder.

`On Dpposite sides of the lower end of each cylinder The numerals .25 l26 indicate the exhaustpipes leading from the low-pressure cylinder to' the condenser, which latter, however, is not shown.

Each steam-chest 3 4 is provided with acentrai steam-chamber27, communicating atopposite ends, through the medium of ports 28 29, with valve-chambers 30 31, which in turn communicate, through ports 32 33, with the exhaust-pipes 22 23. Located in each valvechamber isa valve, said valves being indicated, respectively, by the numerals 34 35, and controlling-ports 36 37 ,1eading, respec-4 tively, into opposite ends of the cylinder. The valves4 34 35 are of the plugftype of valve and have the general construction illustrated in Fig. 7. 1 The numeral 38 indicates the body of the valve, which is hollow and slightly tapered from one end to the other, and 4the numeral 39 the valve-stm, The valve body or shell is provided on opposite sides with flattened IOO Iov

through s.length,`along .its upperedgepor-b., it @peiling 'JA-,whichis approximatelyv ut., ne-'halft'hewidth of the flat` tenedzpbi-tion f4.1, The valves 45 4.6 ofthe .low-.pressure-cylinder areA the'same in construction and operation as those ofthe highpressure cylinder, so thata'description of .one

set of valves will suce for both.

i twill vnowdesc'ribethe operation ofthe valvesof the high-pressure cylinder, referring to Fig.1, wherein vsaid cylinder isshown insection at-the right of the figure.v In the position `ofthe partsf there shown the piston 16 has started on its forward movement,and

steam is passing from the chamber 27, through v 4port2'9, intothe valve-chamber 31', and thence through the opening 44 into the interior of valve 35:, when'ce it passes out through the opening 42 of said valve and th'roughport v37 into l,the rear endof cylinder At the front fend of the cylinder lsteam is exhaustingthrough port 36, which is partly uncovered by the cut-od 43, past the straight sidey 40 of valve;

34, and through port32 to the exhaust-pipe 23. When the piston has reached' the limit of its forward movement, the cut-off mechanism, hereinafteiidescribed, operates to reverse the positions of the valves, so that the valye 34will occupy thesame relative position nowoccupied by valve 35, While the latter valve will occup y the same relative position now occupied by valve 34. In this reversed position of the valves the steam will enter cylinder 1 through valve 34 in the same manner as described with reference to valve 35, while .at'therear end of the cylinder the steam will exhaust .past the flat side'40 of valve` 35 intothe exhaust-pipe 22. When either-valve 34 or 35 is in the position vto admit steam into the cylinder, which is vthe position,v shown with rev s's speci; to 1valve35,I communication with the vexhaust-port 32 or 33, as the case may be, is

cut volf'by reasonfof the fact that the cut-olf '4 3of the valve 'thenoccupies a position between .the exhaust-port and the port 36er 37,

so that the full expansive power of thestea-m .can beutilized in the low-pressure cylinder.

Fromthelabove construction it will be seen that the'f'exhaust-steam from the high-pressure-cylinder` passes alternately through the pipes 22v and 23 .into the common inlet-pipe '24, leading to the steam-chest 4 of the lowp-ressure cylinder, in which cylinder the same operation of the valves`45 46 takes place as described-with refe-rence to the valves 34 35, except that the steamv passes' from the cylinder 1 through the pipes 25 26 to the condenser. .4 Upon thel valve-stein 39 of each valve is firmly secured a lever-arm 47, the lever-arms f siderabledistance is a feather 55.

' of each vcylinder` being pivotally connoctedat their outer ends- Vhyaconnecting-rod 48A. This mechanism' Iis shown only' in connection `Iv-ith the valves of 4the low-pressure cylinder in. Figs. lf-and- 2; -buti similar mechanism is employed for operating the valves ,of the highpressure cylinder. Pivotally connected to the innermost lever-arm 47 of each pair is a valverod,`th e valve-rod of the low-pressure cylinder-being indicated by the numeral 49 and that of the high-pressure `'cylinder by the n.11-

meral 50.` 4As shownfin Fig. 2, the connection-oftlievalve-rod is not direct-lywith the lever-arm 47, but with a pin 5l, carriedvby said lever-arm. The means for reciprocating the valve-rods 49 50, so as to cause the valves to be rocked back and forth through the medium of the connected lever-arm 47, secured on the stems-of the valves, fwill'now be described, such means constituting what has been termedherein the variable cut-olf mechanism.

The numeral 52 indicatesjan eccentric-ring having an` elongated aperture 53, by which means it is mounted andvertically-movable on the shaft/5. Said ring is also provided on opposite' sides, respectively, of the central y aperture 53 with` two elongated slot-s 54. Ex-

tending along one side of the shaft. for a con- Mounted on the shaft 5, on opposite sides, respectively, of the eccentric-ring 52,aretwo circular plates 56 57,'on'e of which, 56, is shown'in detail in Fig. 6. These plates are each provided v,with

a central .opening 58, by means-ofA which they may be inserted on the shaft, and with a groove 59, leading from said opening for receivin-g thefeather 55. On opposite sides of the central opening 58 each plate is provided on its inner side with -studs 60, two in number, which when the plates are secured on opposite sides of the eccentric-ring 52 are designed t-oenter the slots 54. As the shaft 5 revolves the plates 56 57, being keyed thereon, will revolve with it and through the me-l dium of the studs 60 will cause the eccentricri-ng 52to revolve. The slots -54 are free to slide over the stud 60, and by adj usting'the eccentric-ring vertically on the shaft 5, which adjustment is permitted by the elongated aperture 53, the throw of the eccentric can be varied. The bottom wall of the aperturev 53 is'recessed, as indicated at 61,' to receive the' feather 5'5 whenthe ring has been-ad-A ted'to bring this end of the aperture gus against the shaft 5, Sothat the ring may be adjusted to the ful-lest extent in thisv direction. w The means Keyed on the shaft 5,l through the medium Aof'the feather 55 at one side of the eccentric,

or inclined, as indicated Vat 64. Near the for adjusting the ecce n'tric-v v,ring will now be described.

v1 zo tgo outer edge vof the eccentric, on the side adjacent to the block 62,v are provided two apertured lugs or ears 65', between which is pivi otally securedby a pin 68 near the bottom ofy 659,162 f l s otally secured, by means of s'. pin 66, the end of a link,`67,' the vopposite end 'of which is piva radial slot 69, formed in the outer edge portion of 'the block 62 i-n the end adjacent to the eccentric. The .plate 56, which is. the

4one adjacent to'j'sa'd block, is provided with a'similarsrlot 70 in line 'with the link 67.'

These slots allow for the play of the linkl in the movement of the block 6 2, as presentlydescribed.

' The numeral 7l indicates an upright lever-` arm'having a bifurcated, portion 72 about centrally of its length, embracing a stud 73,'

projecting upward from the framing 9 and .pivot'ally secured thereon by a pin 7 4. Beiow the point of` pivotal vconnection 74( the two arms of the bifurcation are eXtendedout-` ward in opposite directions at right angles to the lever-arm, 'as indicated at 75, and are 'then extended downward to form two parallel forks0 .76, 'embracing lthe block 62, each fork having at its outereud an inwardly-extending stud77, engaging in the circumferential groove 63 of said' block, but permitting its free revolution. -By moving the upper end of thelever-arm 7l outward or in a j direction away from the cylinders the block `2, by reason of the engagement of the studs 77 in the s lot`63` thereof, will be moved in-4 ward or toward the eccentric, and the link 67 as its. lower end is carried inward thereby will raise the eccentric-ring 52 a greater or less distance, according to the distance the block 62 isvmoved inward, such movement `iucreasingthe throwof the eccentric, aswill more clearly appear from Figs..4 and 5. The

- Aslots 69 and 70 permit the .movement ot' link 67 in a direction toward a vertical line, as

4will be seenfrom Fig. 4; `The extreme inward movement of block 62'will raise the eccentric-ring 52 to the liinit of its adjustment in this direction,in which position the feather 55f will lie in the groove 61. The movement of lever-arm 7l in the opposite direction to.

that'just described will lower the eccentricring 5 2 and decrease the throw ofthe eccentric, as will be understood. Pivotally secured 0n the outer end of the lever-arm71 is a rod 78 for moving said lever-arm. Any suitable means may be employed -in connection with the rod 78 to hold it firmly in the adjusted position to which it may be moved.

The numerals 79 80`indicate, respectively, two eccentric-straps mounted on the eccentric-ring 52 in the usual manner.4 Formed integral with the eccentric-strap 8.0 is alug` i 81, suitably apertured and recessed to 'have secured therein, by nuts orthe like, the lower end of the valve-rod 5 0, which operates the valves of the high-pressure cylinder, aspreviously described. It will thus be seen that by lvarying the throw `of the eccentric in thev manner previously described I thereby vary the throw or extent of reciprocation of the valve-rod 50, and consequently vary the cut- 'olf of the valves 34 35. On the opposite eccentric-strap 79 is provided an integral arm 82, and the mechanism connected and coperating therewith for operatingt the valve-rod 49, so that said valve-rod may be operated from the eccentric 52, while the variations in adjustment of the eccentric shall not affect the cut-olf of the valves 45 46, will now be described.

Thenumeral 83 indicates a bracket constituting an extension of the frame 9 and having a bracket-arm 84, in which is slidably mounted a guide-block. Pivotally connected to'the inner endof this guide-block, at one side thereof, is a long arm 86, the outer end of which is pivotaliy connected atl 86s to `the outer end of a crank-arm 87, the lower end of which crank-arm is fast on a shaft 88, mounted in bearings 89 on the 4hangers v20. Secured o'n the shaft is one end of a curved arm 89, the outer'end of which is bifurcated i and has rotatably mounted in such bifurcated portion aheveled roller'90, w'h'ichis held constantly in contact with the inclined surface -64 of the block 62 by means of a coiled spring 91, one end of which is secured to the crankarm 87 and the other end to the frame of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1.

The numeral 92 indicates a rock-arm which is pivotallysecured at ,itsl lower end to the outer end of the guide-block 85 on the oppoJ site side to that on which the lever-arm 71 is pivoted. A single pivot-pin 93,passed through the end of said guide-block, serves forv pivoting said lever-arm and the rock-arm 9,2. Toward its outer end the rock-arm 92 is provided with a slot 94 and at its' extreme outer end is pivotally connected at "95 to a head 96, which' in turn is secured on the lower end of the valve-rod 49. Pivotally mounted on the bracket 83 at 83a. is a crank-arm .97, having a pin 98, extending through and working in the slot 94 of the rock-arm 92. 'Toithis pin the arm 82 of eccentric-strap 79 is pivotally connected'. The crank-arm 97 will be rocked back and forth in the revolution ofeccentric-ring 52 by reason of the pivotal connection Voi" its'pin 98 with the arm 82 of eccentric-strap 79. As the pin 98 also works in slot 94 of the rock-arm 92, said rock-arm .in the revolution of the eccentric will thereby' arm 87 downward, which movement of the v crank-arm through the medium' of `thearm 86 `will move the guide-block 85outw'ard, carrying with it the rock-arm 92, so that the pin 98, which in the position of the parts shown in Figs. l and 3 is near' the bottom of4 the slot 94 of said rock-arm, will now.oc cupy a position nearer the upper end of said slot, so that while the arc of movement of Si) l tro pin 98 has been increased the corresponding or proportionate decrease in distance between the pin 98 and the outer end'of the' rock-arm will prevent any increasein the throw-of said rock-arm. Should the 'block' 62 be moved outward or away from the eccent-ric to. decrease `the throw thereof andthe throw `of the valves 34Ev 35,'the roller 90 'as it rides up theincline iii-twill force the curved arm 89 outward, thereby revolving shaft 88 and raising crank-,arm 87, which movement through-the mediumof-the arm 86 will cause the rock-arm 92 to be raised, the slot 94 riding over the pin 98, so that said pin will now occupy a position nearer the bottom of said slot,'and theA distance from the pin 98 to the outer end of the rock-arm will bei-increased in'proportion to thedecrease in throw of the eccentric and the throw of 'rock-arm 92. remain uniform. The guide-blockS serves as an adjustable pivot-bearing forthe arm 86 and rock-arm92 and is of course stationary after the adjustment has once-.been made.'

It will be seen from the above construction that no matter what variation may be eected in the throw or cut-off of valves 34 35 the cut-0E of the valves 45 46 will remain uniform, so that the full expansive power of the steam exhausted from the high-pressure cylinder can. be utilized in the low-pressure cylinder and the maximum pressure of the steam be employ ed. Owing to the very low pressure of the steam leaving the low-pressure cylinder I contemplate after passing the steam through a condenser accomplishing the final exhaust thereof to the air wthoutthe formation of vapor. l

It will be obvious without further specification -that I can utilize the adjustment of the eccentric for the purpose of reversing the engine. j

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new ,is-

1. In a steam-motor, in combination with a high-pressure and a low-pressure cylinder geared to a common drive-shaft, an eccentric mounted on said shaft having straps, a valverod for operating the valvesof the high-pressure cylinder connected directly 'to one of said straps, a valve-rod for operating `the valves of the low-pressure cylinder, and differential cut-0E mechanism connecting said latter valve-rod with the other of saideccentric-straps, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-motor, in combination with a high-pressure and a low-pressure cylinder geared to a com'mon drive-shaft, an eccentric mounted on said shaft having straps, a valvey rod for operating the valves of the high-pressure cylinder connected directly to one of said straps, a valve-rod for operating the .valves of the low-pressure cylinder, ldi Eerential cut-'off mechanism connecting said latter valve-rod with the other of said eccentricstraps, and means for varying the throw-'of said eccentric, substantially as described.

In a steam-motor, in combination with a high-pressure and a low-pressure cylinder, geared to a common driveshaft,an eccentric mounted on said shafthaviug straps,a valverod for operating the valves 0f the high-pres- -sure cylinder connected]directly y)to one of said straps, a valve-rod for operating the valves of the low-pressure cylinder, dier'- entialcut-off vmechanism connecting said latter valve-rod with the other of said eccentric'- straps, means for varying thethrow of said eccentric ,and mechanism operated thereby to vary the throw of said cut-0E mechanism inversely to that of the eccentric, substantially as described. y v

4; I-n a steam-motor, inl combination with a high-pressureand a low-pressure cylinder, cut-olf mechanism for'the valves of the highpressure cylinder, variable cut-od mechanism'for the valves of the low-pressure cylinder, a singleeccentric for operating-,both of said cut-od mechanisms, and means foradjusting said eccentric to vary the throw of the cut-od mechanism uofthe high-pressure cylinder and thereby automatically adjust said variable cut-off mechanism to maintain a uniform cut-0E of` the valves of the low-- pressure cylinder, substantially as described.

5. In a steam-motor, in combnation'with a high-pressure and a ,low-pressure `cylinder geared to a common drive-shaft, an eccelltric mounted on said shaft having straps, a

. valve-rod for operating th'evalvesof the highpressurecylinder connected directly to one of vsaid straps, a block-slidably mounted on and rotating with said shaft and' having'an` inclined surface and a link connection with said eccentric, 'meansfor adjusting said block toward or from thek eccentric, wherebyv to v-ary the throw thereof, a valve-rod foroperating the valves of the low-pressure cylinder, differential'cut-off mechanism connecting said latter valve-rod with the other of said eccen-- tric-straps, and means for adjusting the throw of said dierential cut-od: mechanism inversely to that of said eccentric including a pivoted arm having atits end a roller 'bearing on the inclined portion of said block,sub stantially as described f j` 6. Ina steam-motor, in combination with a high-pressure anda low-pressure cylinder geared to a common drive-shaft, an eccentric mounted on said shaft having straps, a valverod for the high-pressurecylinder connected directly to one of said straps, a cylindrical block slidably mounted on said shaft to rotate'therewith,-and having an inclined surface and a link connection with said eccentric, means for adjusting said block toward o`r from the eccentric to vary the throw thereof, a valve-rod for the low-pressure cylinder, a guide-block, a slotted rock-arm pivotally secured thereto at one end and having its outer end pivotally connected to said latter valve-rod, a crank-arm pivotalliggmoi/nted on the frame and having a studworkin/g through in' the adjustment of said slot, an arm carried by the other of said eccentric-straps and pivotally secured to said stud, and mechanism automatically operated said block to vary the throw of said rock-arm inversely to that of said eccentric, substantially as described.

7. In a steamhmotor, in 'combination' with a high-pressure and a low-pressure cylinder geared to a common drive-shaft, an 'eccentric mounted on said shaft having straps, a valverod for the high-pressure cylinder connected directly to one of said straps, a cylindrical block slidab/ly mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, and having an inclined surface and a link connection with saidl eccentric,

means for adjusting said block toward or from' the eccentric to vary the throw thereof, a valve-rod for the lowpressure cylinder, a

guide-block, a slotted rock-arm pivotally se-` cured thereto at one end and having its outer end pivotally connected to said latter valverod, a crank-arm pivotally mounted on the frame and havinga stud working through said slot, an arm carried by the other of said' eccentric-straps and pivotally secured to said stud, a rock-shaft, a curved arnr secured thereto and having at its outer end a roller bearing on the Vinclined surface of said block, a crank-arm on said rock-shaft, an arm connected at one end to said crank-anhand at and a spring its other end to said guide-block connected at one end to the frame of the motor and at its other end to said crank-arm,

the combinationy operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a steam-motor, in combination with cut-off mechanism for a high-pressure cylinder and variable cut-off mechanism for a lowl pressure-cylinder, a driveshaft, a single'eccentric mounted thereon comprisingan eccentricring slidably mounted on the shaft and provided with parallel slots, straps on said eccentric-ring connected, respectively, with said cut-olf mechanisms, plates keyed on said vshaft on opposite sides of said eccentric-ring and having studs engaging in the slots thereof,

a cylindrical block slidably mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, alink pivotally connected at opposite ends to said eccentricring,r and said block, respectively, means for adjusting said block toward or. from the eccentric to raise or lower said ring and vary the throw of the eccentric, and mechanism coperating with said block in the adjustment' thereof` to automatically adjust the throw' of said variable cut-off mechanism inversely to the throw of said eccentric, substantially as' and for the purpose described.

-In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit-V IleSSQS. FRANK w. WATERMAN. Witnesses:

E. WALTER ROBINSON, MURRAY HANsoN. 

